20 Years of the MICC Program
On June 14, 2025, the Kreisau-Initiative e. V. celebrated 20 Years of the Model International Criminal Court (MICC) in Berlin under the motto “Human Rights Education Still Matters”. More than 150 students, youth workers, educators, lawyers, activists, and human rights defenders came together to honor two decades of youth-centered non-formal educational learning at the intersection of human rights education, international criminal law, and civic responsibility.
Since 2005, MICC has engaged over 12,000 participants from more than 64 countries through simulations, trainings, and international exchanges. The anniversary year looked back at this journey — and looked ahead to the future of human rights education in a world marked by conflict, polarization, and injustice.
Patron of the Anniversary Year
The official Patron of the MICC 20th Anniversary Year was
Dr. Katarina Barley, Vice-President of the European Parliament.
Watch her video message here:
Anniversary Conference – Program (Berlin, 14.06.2025)
10:15 – 10:45 | Keynote address by Judge Reine Alapini-Gansou,
Vice-President of the International Criminal Court
10:45 – 11:00 | Q&A with Judge Reine Alapini-Gansou
11:00 – 11:30 | Film testimonial and discussion with two MICC alumni
11:30 – 12:00 | Coffee break
12:00 – 13:30 | Panel: The role of education for the protection of human rights
Moderation: Dr. Richard Roewer
- Anne Flotho-Liersch, Deputy Director, European Youth Parliament
- Judith Blum, EVZ Foundation
- Kerim Somun, Head of Contemporary History & Human Rights, Programme Director MICC
- Dr. Viviane Dittrich, Deputy Director, International Nuremberg Principles Academy
13:30 – 14:30 | Lunch break
14:30 – 15:00 | Lecture by Dr. Thijs Bouwknegt (NIOD):
“When do ICC trials matter?”
15:00 – 15:30 | Q&A with Dr. Thijs Bouwknegt
15:30 – 16:15 | “Coffee with…” – Discussion rounds with 10 MICC alumni
16:15 – 17:00 | Empowerment talk – Philipp Frisch, Director, Human Rights Watch Germany
Youth Meeting & Alumni Gathering – 09.06. to 15.06.2025.
The anniversary year hosted a vibrant International Youth Meeting and the first large-scale MICC Alumni Gathering. Young people explored justice, accountability, and democratic participation through workshops and a symbolic anniversary simulation. Alumni from two decades reconnected, shared their career paths in law, diplomacy, journalism, human rights, education, and international organizations, and discussed MICC’s long-term impact.
Watch the special alumni feature:
Professional Development Program – 13.06. to 19.06.2025.
In parallel, MICC ran a Professional Development Program for educators, facilitators, researchers and youth workers, focusing on teaching sensitive topics, transitional justice, memory work, media literacy, and simulation-based learning. These sessions strengthened the international MICC network and initiated new collaborations across Europe and beyond.
Donors & Partners
The MICC 20th Anniversary Year was made possible with generous support from:
- European Union / Erasmus+ Programme
- EVZ Foundation – Erinnerung, Verantwortung und Zukunft
- Reinhard Frank Foundation
- Freya von Moltke Foundation
- Roropa
- Engagement Global on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Photo Gallery – 20 Years of MICC
Photos © Vanja Obad